Accelerated aging mediates the association between fecal incontinence and mortality: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The overall prevalence of fecal incontinence among US adults in the study sample was 8.38%.

• Sample comprised 12,581 United States adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Data were analyzed using a cohort study design.
• Fecal incontinence prevalence of 8.38% was identified across the full analytic sample.

Fecal incontinence was positively associated with phenotypic age acceleration.

• Beta coefficient: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.43, 1.58).
• Accelerated aging was quantified using phenotypic age acceleration derived from phenotypic age.
• Association was assessed using multivariable linear regression models.
• The positive association indicates that individuals with fecal incontinence had higher phenotypic age acceleration compared to those without.

Fecal incontinence was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality.

• Hazard ratio for all-cause mortality: 1.24 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.44).
• Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association.
• Analysis was conducted among 12,581 US adults from NHANES.
• The association remained after multivariable adjustment.

Fecal incontinence was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.

• Hazard ratio for cardiovascular mortality: 1.28 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.63).
• Cox proportional hazards models were employed for this analysis.
• The confidence interval just exceeded 1.0, indicating statistical significance at the 95% level.
• Both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality outcomes were examined.

Phenotypic age acceleration partially mediated the association between fecal incontinence and all-cause mortality, accounting for 9.56% of the total effect.

• Mediation analysis was employed to evaluate the mediating role of phenotypic age acceleration.
• Phenotypic age acceleration accounted for 9.56% of the effect of fecal incontinence on all-cause mortality.
• The mediation was described as partial, indicating that additional pathways beyond accelerated aging contribute to the fecal incontinence–mortality association.
• Findings suggest new pathways for mitigating the broader health impacts of fecal incontinence.